Toms Brugge (Zeebrugge) Cruise Port Guide: Belgium

Toms Brugge (Zeebrugge) Cruise Port Guide: Belgium

This guide includes port maps, a map of Blankenberge train station to Brugge station, walking tour maps for Brugge showing key tourist sites and location of canal boat docks. Riding a canal boat is a must!

Brugge is a charming, pedestrian-friendly city. There aren't many vehicles, it's mostly people on foot or bicycles. Walkways are flat and there are few steps to climb.

The architecture is striking with many beautiful buildings. The parks are beautiful and there are many museums, churches, and places to shop. Be sure to take a canal boat ride for scenic views of the city and buy some delicious chocolate.

Brugge is an outstanding example of a medieval historic settlement which has maintained its historic fabric as this has evolved over the centuries, and where original Gothic constructions form part of the town's identity. It is an outstanding example of an architectural ensemble illustrating significant stages in the commercial and cultural fields in medieval Europe, of which the public, social, and religious institutions are a living testimony. As one of the commercial and cultural capitals of Europe, Brugge developed cultural links to different parts of the world. It is closely associated with the school of Flemish Primitive painting. (Source: Unesco website)

Zeebrugge is one of the largest ports in Europe covering an area 2.4 by 3.2 miles. It is a commercial port with many vehicles moving cargo so it is unsafe for pedestrians. You cannot walk through the port area and will be stopped at the port gate if you are on foot.

Cruise ships provide a shuttle bus service to Blankenberge train station for trains to Brugge. My preference is to pre-arrange a taxi service to take me directly to center city Brugge.

Subject

Table of Contents

Pages

Zeebrugge port map

2

Three travel methods to Brugge ? 1) the most complicated, 2) the fastest/easiest, and 3) the most common

2

Travel via shuttle bus from the port to Blankenberge and a train to Brugge

3

From Brugge train station to Markt Square, the center of Brugge

4-5

Getting around Brugge

6

Map of central Brugge

7

Markt square, Church of Our Lady

8-9

Canal boat rides

10-11

Bicycle rental, Brugge Town Hall, Basilica of the Holy Blood, Choco-Story Museum

12

The `Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaarde'

13

Planning your visit

14

User Feedback, Copyright Notice, Terms and Conditions for use of Toms Port Guides

15

CAVEAT

Information contained herein is believed to be accurate. PLEASE verify the information you use for your travel plans. Opinions expressed are my own. This port guide is protected by copyright law - see the last page of this guide for legal notices.

Tom Sheridan Note: I would like to thank Mike Engelberg for his help on this port guide.

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Zeebrugge Port

Zeebrugge is a HUGE port with outer and inner harbors in a 2.4 by 3.2 mile area. You CANNOT walk between the port gate and your ship. This is a commercial port with many vehicles moving cargo. It is dangerous for pedestrians. If you try to walk into the port, you will be stopped by security guards. The ONLY way to enter the port is in a vehicle (bus, van, automobile).

Cruise ships dock at Wielingen, Albert II, Leopold II, Zweedse Kaai, and Brittania. The main dock areas for cruise ships are: 1) Leopold II (Harbour Mole). It's next to the docks for P&O Ferries.

2) Zweedse Kaai (Swedish Quay). A new cruise terminal will be built at this dock in 2014 costing 4 million euro.

How to Get to Brugge?

The Most Complicated Travel Method The most complicated and time consuming route to Brugge is a port shuttle bus to the port gate, then ride coastal trams, trains, and walk from Brugge train station to center city. I do not recommend this complicated, time consuming travel method.

The Fastest and Easiest Travel Method We booked an 8 passenger taxi-van to pick us up at our ship. In 25 minutes, we were in downtown Brugge. We spent five and a half hours exploring Brugge. Round trip 2012 taxi cost was 100 euros (~ $ 16 per person). Book your taxi before your ship arrives in port. There are several taxi companies; we used Taxi Snel, info@taxisnel.be taxisnel.be +32 50 36 36 49 +32 50 33 44 55

The Most Common Travel Method Cruise ships provide a shuttle bus to/from Blankenberge train station. Your ship may offer this for free or charge ~$ 8/person each way. It's a 10-20 minute ride from your ship to Blankenberge train station. Crowds are usually smaller at the train station in the morning; try to get an early bus from your ship to Blankenberge. Train tickets are ~ 6 euro to Brugge round trip. Trains run ~ once an hour; travel time is 14 minutes. From Brugge train station, walk 1.4 Km (18 minutes) or take a bus (6 minutes and 2 euro) to Brugge Markt center.

Caution re taking the coastal tram from Blankenberge train station back to your ship. You can't see cruise ships from the coastal tram. Unless you know the correct tram stop for your ship, you may end up stranded along the road outside the port. In addition, you are not permitted to enter the port on foot. There may or may not be a port shuttle bus at the security gate to take you to your ship.

We saw cruisers lined up at the security gate shouting to buses and cabs asking for a ride to their ship. If there is space in the bus or van you might get aboard. Otherwise, you have to hope that a later bus or van has space.

Consequently, if you are returning to the port on the train from Brugge to Blankenberge, the trouble-free way to get back to the ship from Blankenberge is your ship's shuttle bus.

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Zeebrugge Port to Brugge

The Ship's Bus to Blankenberge Train Station: Depending on where your ship is docked, it's a 1020 minute bus ride to Blankenberge Train Station.

The train schedule changes during the day from 20 to 60 minute intervals; the train ride is 14 minutes.

Train schedule changes almost every day.

Check the schedule for the day you will be in Zeebrugge at

The schedule below is for August 15, 2012

The train is ~ 6 euros round trip. Google estimates it's a 1.4 Km and 18 minute walk from the Brugge Train Station to Markt square, (see map below). If you don't want to walk, it's a 6 minute bus ride (2 euros) from Brugge train station to Markt.

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Map Coordinates

Zeebrugge Port - Zweedse Kaai (Swedish Quay) = 51.339513,3.207051

Blankenberge train station

= 51.312595,3.133638

Brugge train station

= 51.197976,3.21784

Brugge Markt square

= 51.20892,3.22424

Throughout this port guide, I list map coordinates for tourist sites and points of interest. Enter these coordinates in Google or Bing Maps to find the exact location on the map. Google shows a down pointing green arrow at the exact location and a red balloon at the nearest street address. Bing maps show a blue dot at the exact location. Use the "Get Directions" function and specify you want the walking route between map coordinates. Here is the technique to create the walking route map (shown on the the previous page) from Brugge train station to Brugge Markt square:

See the Google Map "Get Directions" screen (photo at left) Open Google Maps "Get Directions" and enter:

? map coordinates for the Brugge train station in box "A" ? map coordinates for Brugge Markt square in box "B"

Then, click on the walking man icon shown by the red arrow.

Google Maps draws the walking route, shows street names, and estimates walking distance and time.

Bus Lines from Brugge Train Station to Downtown Brugge

For bus information see NOTE: Station = Brugge Train Station Brugge center city stop is Markt. Other stops near the Markt are Biekorf and Wollestraat

No. Bus stop - destination 0 Centrum: Station - Markt - Biekorf - Station - Katelijneparking 1 Ver-Assebroek: Station ? Wollestraat 2 A.Z. St.-Lucas: Biekorf - Station (via parking Bargeplein) 2 Assebroek (Peerdeke) : Markt - Biekorf - Station (via parking Bargeplein) 2 Parking Bargeplein: Biekorf - Station (bus naar Assebroek) 3 Sint-Pieters: Station ? Markt 4 St.-Jozef : Station ? Markt 4 Koolkerke : Station ? Markt 5 St.-Andries (Hermitage) : Biekorf - Station 6 St.-Kruis (Malehoek) : Station ? Wollestraat 7 St.-Michiels (Kloosterhof) : Biekorf ? Station 9 Kristus-Koning : Biekorf ? Station 9 Hertsvelde : Biekorf ? Station 11 Assebroek (Sint-Kruis) : Station ? Wollestraat 13 A.Z. St.-Jan : Station ? Markt 14 Sint-Jozef: Station ? Markt

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